Jack Canfield, ISBN 978-0-00-724575-8 Published by Harper Element 2007

I was given this book by a friend whilst staying in a cottage in the West of Ireland during my Coaching training. I was “hard at it” typing one of my essays. I could not go to sleep that night without scanning through this book and highlighting sentences and paragraphs that felt relevant. Parts were relevant to me personally, to the coaching assignments and learning, and to my work as a Counsellor & Psychotherapist and Supervisor.

There are sections that I particularly got benefit from. Principle 2 `Be clear why you`re here’ was particularly useful in helping me focus for the “Who do you think you are” essay on the Coaching training. I found the `life purpose exercise’ thought provoking. In particular I liked his words: “Once you are clear about what brings you the greatest joy, you will have a major insight into your purpose”. Carrying out the exercise and reflecting helped me gain clarity in this area.

In the back of my mind I was concerned about completing, sending and receiving responses from friends, colleagues and family to the Full Personal Review assignment. Principle 17 `Use feedback to your advantage’ was reassuring for me. It helped me with: tips on how to react and deal with both positive and negative feedback; how to look for patterns in the feedback, and the benefits of same. I was also concerned about getting feedback from people who have developed differently to me. For example, people who have not looked at the emotional development side of their lives. I was anticipating “criticism” in that aspect as I know some people are uncomfortable around emotions and emotional intelligence. Canfields writing reassured me in that he wrote: “not all feedback is accurate. You must consider the source. Some feedback is polluted by the psychological distortions of the person giving you the feedback”.

This easy to read and use book covers goal setting, affirmations, and many other thought provoking subjects. Canfield tells the reader to “start now!.. just do it!”. That sounded familiar to me… one of the Positive Success group said something similar to me when I was trying to perfect the “perfect” essay!

I have been able to work more deeply with coaching and short-term/brief counselling clients in the areas of affirmations and goal setting using some of Canfields `25 principles of success’.

I was disappointed not to find “values” in the index section. I expected to find it in the section on discovering your life purpose (Principle 2). Alas, no! Perhaps Jack has addressed this in one of his other books.. more reading!

All in all, this is a very readable and accessible book for any coach, coach in training; and anyone interested in personal and emotional development.

One final quote from Michelangelo used by Jack Canfield: `The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.’

Marian Sullivan
PSG Executive and Life Coaching Diploma Student

BSc(Hons)Counselling,MBACP(Accred),  Accredited Dip Executive & Life Coach, RGN, OHND

Author : Karen Kimsey-House (Author), Henry Kimsey-House (Author), Phillip Sandahl

I love this book. The layout, the print, the content and the CD! To me, it is one of the most comprehensive “text” books I have ever read and used.

As a coach in training it has been easy for me to read. Perhaps it appeals as some of the language used is familiar to me because of my counselling and psychotherapy background. One way or the other it worked!

The explanation in the preface of the changes that were put into this second edition appealed to me also. Particularly their increased emphasis on what the authors call “dancing in the moment” in coaching work. This was useful when I felt I was getting swamped down with forms/tools to use with clients. I had felt at the beginning that the coaching process was prescriptive, which was contradicting what I thought “process” was about. So, it was like a breath of fresh air to me to that there was potential to `adjust instinctively’ in the work.

The explanations about the purpose of coaching touched my motivation to continue with the training. Especially at the time when it all seemed impossible to achieve! There were challenges that were hindering my ability to “be” 100% (plus!) on the training. The authors belief that coaching is about `discovery, awareness and choice’ in a way helped me to choose to continue. Not only would I achieve a Diploma at the end of the training; I would also discover more about myself and others, and I would become more self aware. In addition, I was to gain valuable tools, experience, and insight that would assist me to continue pursuing my mission in life. To use myself to empower others to be authentic human beings and to “follow their bliss”.

The Co-Active Coaching Model is one I will use in my professional work. Whether that is in purely coaching, and … or in incorporating it into my other portfolios of employment (Stress Management Adviser/ Occupational Health Adviser/Counselling and Psychotherapy). I will, I imagine, use it as a “bible” to remind me of the philosophy behind the coaching model.

The CD with forms and exercises will be invaluable. The glossary is useful to remind myself of the meaning of significant coaching terms. The Appendix will help with organisational impact of coaching and ethics.

I am looking forward to using this book in coaching and in all my work. This book will serve as an “anchor” point for me, especially during times when I might be questioning my ability to provide clients with the space to access their own expert. It will serve as a memory jogger to me, and a reminder that it is ok to be “the model of courageous questioning… to ask tough questions or tell the hard truth” even if my clients do not like what they hear!

Marian Sullivan
PSG Executive and Life Coaching Diploma Student

BSc(Hons)Counselling,MBACP(Accred),  Accredited Dip Executive & Life Coach, RGN, OHND

Author : JOHN O DONOHUE. ISBN 978-0-553-81241-1

As coaching is concerned with all aspects of a person`s life I feel this book would be a suitable read for any trainee or qualified coach interested increasing their knowledge base of  Celtic thought and spirituality .The author, John O’Donohue died in January of 2008. For my own part, his passing is a big loss. However, he has left a legacy of wonderful writings for those of us interested in deeper aspects of our lives: the meaning of life and our experiences and spirituality.

O`Donohue writes that “because you are human you are privileged and burdened with the task of knowing. Our desire to know is the deepest longing of the soul: it is a call to intimacy and belonging “. One of the greatest tasks in coaching is to empower the client to get to know themselves. To know who they really are in all aspect of their lives. The core. When we go through the wheel of life with clients it is very possible that what is presented as goals to be achieved can change once clients have the opportunity to go under the surface. And, when they get to identify who they are and what their values are there may be resistance to making changes.

O` Donohue covers this resistance to change also. He says that “When you discover this inner well of longing, it can frighten you and send you into flight from yourself”. From a coaching perspective this is a useful book to remind us that clients can resist changes in many ways. It may be their own internal saboteurs   or influences from others around them who want things to stay the same. One of our roles in coaching is to educate our clients. We can educate them to expect that they may resist even their deepest desires. O` Donohue writes about this beautifully: “When you open your heart to discovery, you will be called to step outside the comfort barriers within which you have fortified your life. You will be called to risk old views and thoughts and to step off the circles of routine and image. This will often bring turbulence”.

To me there is much of this book that can be applicable to coaching. From an Emotional Intelligence perspective he covers Interpersonal and Interpersonal relationships in writing about our relationship to ourselves and those around us. When we can relate in a true and honest way he believes that we can be at ease. (General Mood). “When your way of belonging in the world is truthful to your nature and your dreams, your heart finds contentment and your heart finds stillness”. Wow ! How enticing is that! Well, it works for me. And, I believe that coaches and the general public (our clients) may find this to be a very inspiring and thought/change provoking book.

As coaches we have a responsibility to do inside out work ourselves. To be true to ourselves. To continue to self develop and become more self aware. It is an evolving process. If, as coaches we can be the best we can we can exude that with our clients. We can bring our clients as far as we have brought ourselves. We have a choice about becoming authentic human beings, and when we act on it our clients will reap the benefits of it also. “The presence of a person who has stillness and contentment of heart engenders trust”. Our clients can trust us when we also trust ourselves.

The challenge for me in writing this review is that John O’Donohue writes so beautifully, and I just want to quote and quote his wonderful expressions. The reality is that I am not he, and I am doing the best I can right here right now! His book covers areas such as our childhoods, arts (sculpture/music), neighbours /community, family and family home, colours, and spirituality. It is a great read, and does what he set out to do. That is: “A poetic and speculative exploration between longing and belonging”. The text is, in my view, very inspiring for coaches in training, practising coaches and for the public.

One final quote!

“You long to be happy, to live a meaningful and honest life, to find love and to be able to open your heart to someone; you long to discover who you are …. and become free and compassionate”….

Can we as coaches facilitate this for ourselves and our clients?!

Marian Sullivan

PSG Executive and Life Coaching Diploma Student

BSc(Hons)Counselling,MBACP(Accred),  Accredited Dip Executive & Life Coach, RGN, OHND